Saturday, March 29, 2008

Bills of interest for Monday, March 31st

SB3015, SD2, HD1 RELATING TO THE PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ACT. Amends the Patients' Bill of Rights and Responsibilities Act by prohibiting certain unfair or deceptive business practices by managed are plans, such as disenrolling a person because of a medical condition.

HCR244 Proposed HD1 – New title/new description. URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO ADOPT RULES CONSISTENT WITH FEDERAL LAW TO PROHIBIT THE MEAT PACKING INDUSTRY AND MEAT OR MEAT PRODUCT RETAILERS FROM USING GAS OR OTHER TECHNOLOGY TO EXTEND THE EXPIRATION DATE OF MEAT SOLD IN THE STATE. (Herkes)

Committee on Finance, Room 308Chair: Rep. Marcus Oshiro 586-6200

Agenda #1, 2:00 p.m.

SB2342, SD2 RELATING TO THE AUDITOR. Requires the auditor to conduct performance audits of private prisons on the mainland that house Hawaii prisoners.

SB2421, SD2 RELATING TO LAND ACQUISITION. Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to acquire lands owned by the Galbraith Estate in central Oahu; appropriates funds for the acquisition of land in Wahiawa, Oahu, currently owned by the George Galbraith Estate.

SB2198. SD2, HD1 RELATING TO LAND CONSERVATION. Provides a tax credit to encourage the preservation and protection of conservation land in the state.

Agenda #2, 3:30 p.m.

SB966 PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE V, SECTION 1, OF THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION TO CHANGE THE AGE QUALIFICATION FOR THE OFFICES OF GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FROM THE AGE OF THIRTY YEARS TO THE AGE OF TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.

SB2879, SD2 RELATING TO EDUCATION. Establishes a power of attorney for special education. Establishes the process to appoint a surrogate decision maker for an adult or emancipated minor student who lacks capacity. Clarifies the authority of a guardian or an adult or emancipated minor student.

Agenda #3, 4:30 p.m.

SB2157, SD1, HD1 RELATING TO HEALTH. Clarifies the prescribing of opiates for pain treatment. Extends the time limit in which scheduled II controlled substances prescriptions must be filled. Establishes the Hawaii Health Crops that will provide loan repayments and stipends for physicians and dentists who agree to work in health professional shortage areas and as first responders during civil defense and other emergencies. Expands the Enterprise Zone Business Tax Credit, general excise tax exemption, and other business incentives to include physicians and dentists who establish or maintain practices in areas designated as enterprise zones.